Folding box.



J. F. KEBBELL.

FOLDING BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29. 1917.

1,226,531 Patented May15, 1917.

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FOLDING BOX.

APPLICATION FILED .IAN.29, 19w.

1,,Q26,531 w Patented May 15, 1917.

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JOHN FALCONEB KEBBELL, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNCR OF ONE-HALF TOGUSTAVE GEORGE GROS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

FOLDING BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 19 17.

Application filed January 29, 1917. Serial No. 145,273.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN Fanconnn KnenaL a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing in London, England, have invented certain new anduseful Improve ments in or Relating to Folding Boxes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to holders or boxes which are used for theprotectiom'during transport or storage, of electric lamps, eggs, bottlesand other fragile articles, and are cut or stamped each from a singlepiece or blank of cardboard, strawboard or other suitable and pliablematerial, such holders or boxes being of the kind that are internallyprovided, for the reception of articles, with cup or nest-like supportscomposed wholly of tongues which are formed along the end margins of theblanks and are integral end extensions of those arts of the blanks thatconstitute the walls or sides of the box bodies, the tongues beingcreased in a number of places and folded along the creases toward thatface of the blank which is to constitute the inside face of the box.

It consists in an improved construction the object of which is to allowthe boxforming manipulations of a blank being proceeded with to theextent that it may not only be possible to stitch, staple or otherwisesecure together its side margins or edges while the blank is in acollapsed or flat condition and to store the partly completed box blanksin that state for future use, but also, in order to render a partlycompleted box blank ready to receive an article, it only. remains firstto press the opposite side edges of the blank toward each other untilthe box body portion of the blank assumes a hollow multi-sided form, andsecondly to apply pressure to all the support-forming tongues thenprojecting from one end of the box body, so as to cause them to enterwithin the hollow body of the box, thereby completing the formation of acup-like support and clos ing in that end of the box without any furthertucking in or manipulation of the tongues. 1

According to this invention, the tongues formed along an end of a blankare all alike in design. The tongues may be so creased and folded thatwhen turned into the interior of the box body so as to close the endthey will become selflocked, or the tongues at one end of a box mayinterlock with tongues at the other end. A box constructed according tothis invention may have a single nest-like support or receptacleconstituted by tongues formed at both ends, or it may have tworeceptacles, one at each end, each receptacle being formed by tongues atthe respective end.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, and for convenience of description it will be supposed theimproved box is to be a foursided one.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a piece or a blank ofcardboard or other suitable material, cut or punched and shaped toconstitute, when folded as hereinafter de scribed, one form of theimproved holder or box; Figs. 2 and 3 are each a sectional elevation ofthe blank in Fig. 1 folded to form a box; in the former figure one endonly of the box being closed and in the latter both ends closed. Fig. 4is a cross section of the folded blank; Fig. 5 is an elevation of a boxformed from the blank in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a plan of a blank shaped toconstitute a modi- -fied form of the improved box. Figs. 7 and 8 aresectional elevations of the blank in Fig. 6, when folded, one end onlybeing closed in Fig. 7 and both ends in Fig. 8; Fig. 9 is a longitudinalsection of a modified form of the box, both ends being open; Fig. 10 isa similar view with both ends closed; Fig. 11 is a plan of a portion ofa blank and illustrates a modification; Fig. 12 is a longitudinalsection through one side of a modified box of which the blank in Fig. 11constitutes a portion, the ends of the box being supposed open; Fig. 13is the same section as in Fig. 12, the ends of the box being closed;Fig. 14: is the elevation of a portion of a tongue similar to a tongueof the blank shown in Fig. 6, illustrating one way of forming asecondary tongue; and

Figs. 15 and 16 are respectively an elevation and section of the tonguein Fig. 14-, showing the secondary tongue folded and adjusted inoperative position.

The invention will be described first with reference to Figs. 1 to 5, inwhich A is a blank of appropriate material and of suitable shape andsize. The blank is cut or v Z, 6 on the other end, as in Fig. 1. a"central or body portion 0 of the blank 1s punched along the margins ofits two ends in a manner to form a number of tongues a, a, b, b ofconvenient shape and dimensions. The tongues along an end of the blankare all of the same design and all the tongues are creased or scoredtransversely each in two places, the first or inner crease or score 1being at the junction of a tongue with the central or body portion 0 ofthe blank and the second crease 2 at a suitable distance away, butnearer the free end or tip of the tongue. The tongues a, a on one end ofthe blank are in line with the tongues The also creased or scoredlongitudinally across, in the case of a four-sided box, in three placesdividing the said portion into two outer and two inner panels, eachpanel being as it were an integral continuation of a tongue. These saidpanels constitute the side walls of the box that is to be formed byfolding the blank as described below. The tongues at their junction withthe panels have respectively the same width as the corresponding panel.

At one side of the body portion there may be the customary extension orflap (Z for holding the side walls together, as hereinafter described.The flap d would be scored along its junction with the body portion, asindicated at 5.

After the blank has been cut or punched and scored as just described,the operation of forming the holder or box with four walls can becommenced, by first turning the outer portion of each of the tonguesformed along one end of the blank about crease 2 and in a directiontoward the inside of the body portion 0 so that the outer portion willoverlie the alined panel of the body portion. Then the outer portions ofthe tongues along the other end of the blank are similarly treated. Asthe tongues a, a and Z), 6 on the two ends are oppositely disposed andin line, then when the tongues are turned or bent about the outer crease2 as just stated, one tongue will directly overlie the alined body partbut the opposite tongue will rest upon the last said or alined tongue.The tongues being thus folded over about crease 2, the body portion isnext bent or folded about its central crease i, if that portion is toremain in a fiat condition, or

e if it is to assume a box-like or hollow form it is bent about thethree creases or scores 4 so as to bring the several panels constitutingthe walls at right angles to one another, in both cases the margin 0meeting the edge or crease 5. The walls constituted by the two meetingparts of the body portion can be held together in any appropriate way,for instance by means of a gummed or glue band or by the flap cl abovealluded to, the flap being turned so as to abut, as shown in Fig. 4 inbroken lines, against the assembled ad oining wall of the body andsecured thereto by staples, glue or other agent.

The blank thus far dealt with can be stored away for future use eitherin its collapsed or in its box-like condition.

The next step in the box-forming process is to close in one end or thebottom of the box-like casing by turning the inner portions of thetongues at that end about the respective first or inner crease 1 untilthey assume positions wherein each such portion is substantially atright angles to the corresponding wall part', or in other Words untilthey all become substantially flush with one another and lie in oneplane, as indicated at the left end of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 2 the inner portions 6 of tongues Z) 6 are shown, by Way ofexample, as being the portions that are thus turned about the creases 2before the inner portions of the tongues a, a are similarly dealt withas explained later. The effect of thus turning the inner tongue portionsZ) is to cause the free outer ends or tips of the tongue portions 6 toslide between the tongue portions a and the inner faces of thecorresponding side wall parts 0 toward the inner tongue portions (1.,the outer tongue portions 6 turning about their inner creases 1 andassuming positions inclined to the respective walls, as is seen in Fig.2. The inner tongue portions Z), when thus folded as just described, maybe retained in position by aifixing a label or the like over the foldedportion or placing a cap over that end ofthe holder, but neither a labelnor cap is shown in the drawings.

With the box standing on end on the portions 6, the inclined tongueportions 6 within the four side walls constitute a nest like receptaclewith upwardly flaring walls, in which the article to be protected by orincased in the holder can be placed.

When the article has been placed in the holder, the top open end ormouth of the holder can be'closed in by turning the inner tongueportions a at that end about their creases l in a manner similar to thatdescribed in regard to the closing in of the bottom of the holder.

By thus closing in the mouth or top, the

tips of the top tongues will slide, as the case may be, either upon thelower tongues, Fig. 3, or upon the inner faces (Fig. 8) of the box sidewalls to which they are attached, and in doing so will reduce the sizeor capacity of the nest, as indicated in Fig. 5, and leave little or noopportunity for the article in the nest to move about therein.

The inner tongue portions (1 at the top can be held, if desired, in theclosed position by a label afiixed thereto, a cap or lid, or in anyother suitable manner. In the construction shown in Figs. 6, 7

"tongues shown in Fig. 1, and the tongues at the opposite end of thebody comprise portions 6 and 72* which correspond to the portions 6 andb in Fig. 1, the tongues in Fig. 6 being creased and bendable on linescorresponding to the lines upon which the tongues in Fig. 1 are bent.The tongues at one end of the blank alternate 01' are in staggeredrelation with those at the opposite end of the blank, and the folding ofthe tongues is.

effected in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figs.1-5 inclusive. In Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the creases 10 and 12 correspond tothe creases 1 and 2 in Fig. 1.

In the case wherein the tongues formed on the two ends of the blank aredirectly opposite one another, as in Fig. 1, the nest walls will be of adouble character, Figs. 3 and 4, one wall or tongue overlying another;but where the tongues have a staggered relation, as in Fig. 6, the nestwalls will be of a single nature and the tongues will not overlie oneanother, Fig. 8. In all cases, owing to the pliable nature of the blankand hinge-like character of the creases, the nest walls will be capableof yielding to some extent and absorbing shocks.

A modified form of the improved box is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In thisform the tongues a, C612 and 6, 6 at the two ends of the box 0 are givena third crease 3 in positions nearer the free ends of the tongues thanthose which creases 22 occupy, and the portion of each tongue betweenits tip and crease 3 is doubled or turned inwardly upon the portionbetween creases 22 and 3 as indicated at one end of Fig. 9. When suchdoubled back portions are subsequently turned about creases 22 and 81into the interior of the box, the tongue portions (1", b assume the positions shown in Fig. 10, and the box will have separate yieldablenest-like receptacles at each end, the resiliency of one nest beingindependent of that of the other, the nests being formed at theoppositeends of the box. If, after the tongue portions b 79 have beenturned into the positions they have in Fig. 10, an article be insertedin the box and the tongues a", a be then turned into the correspondingpositions, the pressure of the article tends to force the walls of thereceptacles toward the walls of the box and the free ends of the tonguesinto the corners or creases 31, so that the portions (t and 1) becomeself-locked and unable to turn about creases 31, so that no label or lidis required to keep these portions-constituting the ends of the boxinthe closed position.

A. further modification is shown in Fig. 11. In this form tongues a aand b 6 are formed on the ends of the body 0 the body is creased on thelines 5, and the flap (Z secures the body as before and, the tonguesbeing opposite one another at each end of the blank as indicated at B,but after the tongues 6 5, say, have been folded about their creases 21and tongues a, (L31 about creases 11 then the tongues of one end areconnected or secured to those of the other end, for instance by slottingthe tongues respectively at (0 b and engaging or interlocking themtogether as indicated at D in Fig. 11 or by means of glue, staples orother suitable means. If the blank, with the tongues folded as shown inportion C, Fig. 11, or in Fig. 12, be again folded so that the sidewalls 0 of the box become mutually at right angles and the meeting edgesof the body are connected together by, say flap (P, then a four-sidedbox with both ends open will be formed ready for the reception of anarticle. If an article be inserted in the box and the tongue portions 5be now pressed toward the interior of the box, turning about theircreases 11, then the portions a a, a, 6 and 0 will assume the relativepositions indicated in the section in Fig. 18, the two ends becomingclosed and the tongues a, 6 yieldingly pressing against the articlesurrounded by them. If the tongues be of sufficient length the tips ofthe tongues at one end will abut against the turned over inner portionsof the tongues at the other end whereby longitudinal movements of thewalls of the receptacles will be obviated.

If the article for which the improved holder or box is to be used is ofa heavy naturea bottle of liquid for instanceit is preferable not onlyto stagger the tongues on one end of the blank relatively to those onthe other end but also to provide means whereby the walls may affordmutual support to one another, as for instance, by forming projectingparts, such as 6 (Figs. 6 and 16) on the free ends of the tongueportions 5 and of a size and shape to fit into and interlock withsuitably arranged slits or slots a provided near the inner ends of theouter portions a of the other set of tongues. For the reception andtransport of bottles having shouldered necks, or other similiarly shapedarticles, it is advantageous to form secondary tongues on some or all of.the main tongues or nest walls and to shape and score the secondarytongues so that they can be i folded in a manner to have a part thatwill engage or take into notches provided for the purpose, and willproject inwardly so as to bear upon the shoulder or other part of thebottle or article.

Such secondary tongues may be formed, folded and arranged as will be nowdescribed with reference to Figs. 14 to 16. In a tongue portion a asecondary tongue or flap .consisting of parts a a and a is formed insuitable position by making slits 6, 7, the tongues being scored orcreased at 8, 9 and 10. Notches a are provided on either side of theflap part a The parts a a are first folded about crease 9 into aposition more or less normal to part a with the part a directed towardthe attached side 0 The flap is then pushed inwardly and through notchesat until the crease 10 is coincident with the rear face of tongue a,whereupon the part a is turned down as indicated in Figs. 15 and 16, thepart a forming the desired ei'lgaging abutment or shoulder.

The parts of the tongues that would in the case of a bottle beingincased, abut against the stopper or the end of an article, may besuitably slit as shown, for instance at b in Figs. 6, 15 and 16, so asto be capable of yielding and accommodating themselves to the shape ofthe stopper or end. The blank may be similarly slit in other parts whereany give may be advantageous.

With a view to reducing the weight of a holder the tongues and otherparts of the holder may be pierced with suitably shaped holes orapertures, such as a b 0 shown by way of example on a pair of tongues a,b and in the body portion 0 in Fig. 1.

The blanks after being cut or stamped out and scored can, before beingfolded to form a holder or box, be stored away in the flat or collapsedcondition, with the tongues folded to overlie the central or bodyportion of the blank or otherwise.

A box having four equal sides and constructed according to thisinvention can itself, after being completed and made ready for thereception of an article, be collapsed and rendered fiat for easystoring, by pressing two diagonally opposite corners of the box towardeach other until they meet. A collapsed blank may be converted into ahollow body by pressing the other pair of corners toward one another asufficient amount.

These holders or boxes can be used singly by themselves or a number ofthem can, for transport or other purposes, be packed into an outercasing.

Having thus described the nature of the said invention and the bestmeans I know of carrying the same into practical effect, I claim 1. Aholder or box comprising a body having a set of inturned tongues at eachof its ends, each tongue comprising a complemental end closing portionfor the body and a nest-forming portion beyond the end closing portion,the complemental end closing portions of the tongues being foldable intoa position perpendicular to the length of the body whereby thecomplemental end closing portions of each set of tongues cooperate toclose the respective ends of the body and the nest-for1ning portions ofthe tongues being foldable into diagonal positions within. the body.

2. A holder or box comprising a body having a plurality of tongues alongeach end thereof, said tongues being bent inwardly to form a nest withinthe body of the box, and the tongues at one end of the body cooperao ingdirectly with those at the opposite end of the body whereby the tonguesare mutually retained in operative position.

8. A holder or box comprising a body having a set of tongues along eachend thereof, the set of tongues at one end of the body overlapping andcooperating directly with those at the other end of the body to retainthe tongues in position to form a nest-like receptacle within the body.

at. A holder or box comprising a body having inturned tongues atopposite ends thereof, the tongues at one end cooperating directly withthetongues at the other end of the body to retain the tongues ininturned condition.

5. A holder or box comprising a body having sets of tongues at both endsthereof, both sets of tongues being inturned into the body to form anest-like receptacle having walls flaring toward the inside of the body,the set of tongues at one end of the body cooperating directly with theset of tongues at the opposite end of the body whereby the sets oftongues are mutually retained in operative position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. FALCONER KEBBELL.

Witnesses:

C. S. Hornms, W. J. SKERTEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of 2atents,

Washington, D. O.

